Spring Sports Report 2013

section C addison independent presents addison county high school

FEATURING:

• team rosters • schedules • pictures and stories

april 18, 2013

PAGE 2C — Addison Independent, Thursday, April 18, 2013

MIDDLEBURY

UNION

HIGH

SCHOOL

Veteran youth coach to lead Tiger baseball

By ANDY KIRKALDY MIDDLEBURY — For the first time in almost four decades, the Middlebury Union baseball team has a new coach, Charlie Messenger. Messenger takes over this spring for Doc Seubert, who this past fall decided to step down.

Messenger is familiar to many, if not all, of the Tigers he will coach this season: For the past 25 years, he has coached area Little League and Babe Ruth teams, as well as fall teams of local high school players in a Chittenden County league.

Messenger, who also coached the MUHS varsity girls’ basketball team in the 1990s, immediately saw a couple positives for this year’s group of Tigers.

“Their attitude, and I think they can be a good hitting team,” he said.

“We don’t have a lot of velocity in our pitchers, but they have been hitting spots. If they can hit the spots that we want them to and use their offspeed stuff, we’ll be OK.” Messenger said the Tigers have the work ethic they need to smooth out rough edges of fielding and pitching mechanics as the season progresses.

“The fundamentals still have to come up. We’re still working hard on the fundamentals,” Messenger said.

“They’re on the right road, but we still

have a ways to go if we want to be somebody that is competitive in Division I.” The Tigers do have veterans back at many positions, including on the mound, where seniors Tyler Provencher and Taylor Patterson and junior Aaron Smith figure to get most of the starting assignments. Juniors Josh Stearns, Josiah Benoit and Sam Messenger are also available to pitch, while David Burt will handle most of the catching chores with Jonas Hastings backing him up.

Other positions were seeing in the preseason what the coach called healthy competition. Patterson and senior Willis Varno are candidates at first base, and Varno and senior Peter Lindholm might both see time at DH. Benoit and junior Isaac Rooney were in the preseason running for second base, and Stearns and Benoit were in the mix at third. At shortstop, Coach Messenger expected to write senior Tyler Delancey’s name on the lineup card on a daily basis.

Provencher and Smith are probable outfield starters when not pitching, while Hastings will see plenty of time in left and Sam Messenger in right. Juniors Nate Laughlin and Eric Shambo and senior Ronnie Metcalf provide outfield depth.

Messenger pledged that the Tigers

would be prepared when they take the field no matter where they end up playing, and said because of their practice effort they would improve during the season.

Overall, he wouldn’t predict wins and losses, but said the Tigers had potential.

“If they continue to work hard, we’re going to be a team to be reckoned with,” Messenger said. “This team will play the whole game, and this team will play it right. And I think they’ll be in every ballgame, and they won’t give up.”

Middlebury Union High School Varsity Baseball Date Opponent/Event 4/16 Fair Haven 4/18 South Burlington 4/20 @ St. Johnsbury 4/23 Colchester 4/25 @ Champlain Valley 4/30 Milton 5/2 Mt. Abraham 5/7 @ Spaulding

Time 4:30 p.m.

4:30 p.m.

11 a.m.

4:30 p.m.

4:30 p.m.

4:30 p.m.

4:30 p.m.

4 p.m.

5/9 5/14 5/16 5/21 5/23 5/25 5/28 5/30

@ BFA-St. Albans @ Mt. Mansfield Essex @ Burlington @ North Country Rice Vergennes @ Missisquoi

4:30 p.m.

4:30 p.m.

4:30 p.m.

4:30 p.m.

4:30 p.m.

11 a.m.

4:30 p.m.

4:30 p.m.

Let’s go Midd!

Middlebury Union High School Varsity Baseball Team Coach: Charlie Messenger Name Grade David Burt 12 Tyler Delancey 12 Peter Lindholm 12 Ronnie Metcalf 12 Taylor Patterson 12 Tyler Provencher 12 Willis Varno 12 Josiah Benoit 11 Jonas Hastings 11 Nate Laughlin 11 Sam Messenger 11 Isaac Rooney 11 Eric Shambo 11 Aaron Smith 11 Josh Stearns 11

New boys’ lax head eyes more progress

By ANDY KIRKALDY MIDDLEBURY — First-year Middlebury Union boys’ lacrosse coach Dennis Smith — well known around the community as the successful Tiger football coach — is hoping to build on the momentum established in 2012 by Patrick Ivory, who before he left to coach at St. Michael’s College led the Tigers to eight victories after a pair of one-win campaigns.

Although a few contributors graduated, Smith and assistant Grover Usilton believe more progress is certainly possible.

“We feel we’ve got a lot of good athletes on the team … We lost a few, but all in all, the core is still here,” Smith said. “We’re just trying to take what Patrick turned around last year and build on the fundamentals that he brought last year, and also be upbeat for the kids.”

Smith said his lacrosse knowledge does not yet match his football acumen, but that he has worked hard with the help of Middlebury College coaches to get up to speed, especially on the defensive end, which will be his prime responsibility while Usilton guides the attack.

“I feel comfortable with the defensive side of the ball right now … And

as I tell the kids, I may not know the answer right at that second, but I will get the answer,” Smith said, adding, “Grover has been wonderful. He’s taken the whole offensive ordeal and is dealing with that.”

Smith is also fortunate to have many key members of his defense back. Sophomores Austin Robinson and Justin Stone started at low defense a year ago, and they will be joined there by junior Sam Smith, a two-year starter at long-stick midfield, essentially a defensive position.

Junior Nick Felkl, who saw major minutes a year ago, will slide into Smith’s spot to form a group that has earned Coach Smiths’ confidence while playing in front of a new goalie, sophomore Nathan Lalonde.

Senior George Mulcahy will back up the defenders, and senior Skyler Shute will back up Lalonde.

“I see us very strong back there,” Smith said.

Smith was still sorting out the midfield lines in the preseason, but has enough middies to run three groups, including seniors Nick Leach, Will Koller and Trevor Emilo; juniors Nathan Herrmann, Nick Audet, Seth Wright and Keenan Bartlett; and sophomores Cullen Hatheway and

Bobby Ritter, with others seeking to work their way in.

“We have, right now, three groups of middies … that can move the ball and can produce for us. We have great depth,” he said.

Senior Christian Higgins, junior Sam Usilton and sophomore Connor Quinn all return on attack after starting most of last spring’s games, and senior Nathan Wulfman will back them up.

“Our attack is all back, three strong, from last year, so I see that as a plus,” Smith said.

In all, Smith said he expects the Tigers to compete to the best of their abilities in every game, and believes that effort should pay off.

“I don’t care about the wins and losses, but show up, work hard and do everything you can give me,” Smith said. “And we’ll let the chips fall from there. I think we’ll be OK.”

Middlebury Union High School Boys’ Varsity Lacrosse Date Opponent/Event Time 4/10 @ Mt. Mansfield 4 p.m.

4/13 @ BFA-St. Albans 11 a.m.

4/16 Champlain Valley 4 p.m.

4/19 @ South Burlington 4 p.m.

4/30 Spaulding 4 p.m.

5/3 Essex 4 p.m.

5/6 @ Woodstock 4 p.m.

5/8 @ Burlington 7 p.m.

5/11 Mt. Mansfield 11 a.m.

5/14 BFA-St. Albans 4 p.m.

5/17 @ Champlain Valley 4 p.m.

5/20 Woodstock 4 p.m.

5/22 South Burlington 4 p.m.

5/25 @ Spaulding 11 a.m.

5/28 @ Essex 7 p.m.

5/31 Burlington 4 p.m.

MUHS Boys’ Lacrosse Team Coaches: Dennis Smith, Grover Usilton Name Grade Trevor Emilo 12 Christian Higgins 12 Will Koller 12 Nick Leach 12 Mack Mason 12 Colin Ryan 12 Skyler Shute 12 Derek St. George 12 Nathan Wulfman 12 Nick Audet 11 Keenan Bartlett 11 Chris Ewell 11 Nick Felkl 11 Kevin Galenkamp 11 Nathan Herrman 11 Max Livingtone-Peters 11 George Mulcahy 11 Sam Smith 11 Sam Usilton 11 Seth Wright 11 Cullen Hathaway 10 Nathan Lalonde 10 Connor Quinn 10 Bobby Ritter 10 Austin Robinson 10 Justin Stone 10

Good Luck Middlebury Tigers!

Supporting atheletes young & old since 1985.

BEST OF LUCK TO ALL STUDENT ATHLETES Play Hard, Play Fair, Have Fun! Tom Broughton

www.vermontsun.com Middlebury 388-6888

Vergennes 877-2030

OT G E V ’ E W CK, YOUR BA TIGERS! 388-3400

www.nooniesdeli.com

388-0014

Play Well

Auctioneer & Tent Rentals Jct 22A & 125, Bridport

802-758-2494

Wishing all Student Athletes a Winning Season Your Friends at:

For all your formal wear needs!

4325 Main St., Port Henry, NY • 518-546-7499 Visit Fashion Corner Bridal on Facebook

&

Have Fun!

merchants row • middlebury • open 7 days a week • 388-7547

-

to all athletes for a 383 Exchange St. • Suite B • Middlebury • 388-2221

To all of our area teams...

Service You Can Trust

Have a GREAT Season!

44 North Pleasant Street, Middlebury, VT

99 Wilson Rd. • Middlebury • 388-3143

We’ve Got You Covered!

Good Luck Great Season!

388-8999

The FashionCorner

Good Luck Tigers!

Middlebury, VT

www.vermontspineworks.com

Best of luck to all athletes – Have a great season!

Good luck to all area teams!

Roofing and Custom Sheet Metal Fabrication

388-2903

ADDISON COUNTY

INDEPENDENT Serving Addison County, Vt., Since 1946

addisonindependent.com 388-4944

Addison Independent, Thursday, April 13, 2013 — PAGE 3C

MIDDLEBURY

UNION

HIGH

SCHOOL

MUHS boys’ tennis has youth, good numbers

By ANDY KIRKALDY MIDDLEBURY — Of all the Middlebury Union teams this spring, boys’ tennis might have seen the most change. Ten seniors from the opening 2012 roster graduated, and for one reason or another, seven others from that list did not return.

But Coach Franz Kollas still has a strong turnout this season, even if not all of his 17 athletes are experienced junior and senior tennis players.

Kollas be“I’ve got lieves the Tigers a really will make up for at least some of good their lack of tenyoung team, and nis backgrounds with speed and they’re all athleticism. really fast “I’ve got a reand good ally good young team, and they’re athletes. all really fast and They’re good athletes,” young Kollas said. and “They’re young they’re and they’re fast and they’re hunfast and gry.” they’re The team does hungry.” return seven, — Coach all sophomores.

Franz Kollas Three of them will almost certainly occupy the top three spots in the singles ladder: Elliot Abbott and Bob Avery will duel for the Nos. 1 and 2 positions, and Bo Tran is the probable No. 3.

Two other veterans might be in the mix for singles spots, Luke Benz and Nathan Cobb, while Jonathan McLuskey and Eric Podraza are more likely to compete for doubles jobs.

Two of the newcomers are upperclassmen: senior Mac Groves, whom Kollas is eyeing as a doubles

specialist, and junior Morgan Ingenthron, who could work his way into the singles mix.

Two freshmen were showing well early, Jonathan Fitzcharles, another potential doubles player, and Nick Holmes. But Kollas emphasized that any of the Tigers could earn match time depending on their improvement and on what particular abilities they develop.

“They all have different skills,” he said. “Depending on what they do as their skills develop pushes them into either doubles or singles.”

Kollas has been at the helm for several years, starting out with a

group of just a handful of freshmen who turned into team mainstays.

This group’s youth and promise remind him of that season.

“This feels like the team I had when I first started coaching,” he said. “And three or four of the sophomores played last year, so it’s a nice base for a young team.”

But Kollas is not writing off this spring while building for the future.

“It’s fun to watch them practice this year, because the energy is really good,” he said. “I don’t see them being No. 1 in the state or No. 2 in the state or anything, but I see them being pretty competitive.”

For All Your Plumbing & Heating Needs You Can Count on The Hometown Favorites to Deliver.

More than 4,500 loyal customers depend on our team.

Best of Luck to all Athletes, and the stars of our lives – Derek, Adam & Dustin.

PLUMBING • HEATING 453-2325 125 Monkton Road, Bristol, VT

PLUMBING•HEATING•AIR CONDITIONING•WATER SYSTEMS

FUEL OIL 388-4975

185 Exchange St., Middlebury

BIO DIESEL • K1 KEROSENE FUEL OIL •GASOLINE • DIESEL

SPRING into Action! NOW is the time to have your heating system cleaned and serviced.

CALL TODAY!

Middlebury Union High School Boys’ Varsity Tennis Team Coach: Franz Collas Name Grade Malcolm Groves 12 Morgan Ingenthron 11 Elliott Abbott 10 Robert Avery 10 Luke Benz 10 Nathan Cobb 10 William Danforth 10 Jonathan McCluskey 10 Eric Podraza 10 Jerald Staret 10 Bo Tran 10 Drew Barnicle 9 Jonathan Fitzcharles 9 Marcelo Hanta-Davis 9 Nick Holmes 9 Maxim Mayone 9 Ben Silver 9

Middlebury Union High School Boys’ Varsity Tennis 5/8 @ Spaulding Date Opponent/Event Time 5/11 @ U-32 4/8 @ Rice 3:30 p.m.

5/17 Harwood 4/15 @ BFA-St. Albans 3:30 p.m.

5/18 North Country 4/20 @ North Country 10 a.m.

5/20 BFA-St. Albans 4/25 Spaulding 3:30 p.m.

5/1

@ Harwood

3:30 p.m.

Let’s go Midd!

3:30 p.m.

10 a.m.

3:30 p.m.

11 a.m.

3:30 p.m.

PAGE 4C — Addison Independent, Thursday, April 18, 2013

MIDDLEBURY

UNION

HIGH

SCHOOL

MUHS track coaches see promising spring

By ANDY KIRKALDY MIDDLEBURY — The 2013 Middlebury Union track and field team includes only a handful of athletes who placed at or qualified for the 2013 Division II championship meet, but the coaches are nevertheless optimistic about this spring.

Longtime throwing coach Ed Blechner — part of a lead trio with coaching newcomers Myka Kimberly, a former MUHS standout jumper and sprinter, and former Pennsylvania high school and college track athlete Michael Corbett — summed up all of their beliefs about a number of promising newcomers.

“I think we have more athletic talent than we’ve had in the past, which is going to help us in the field events, throwing and jumping,” Blechner said. “I think they’ll make a contribution, because they have the ability to learn quickly.”

Certainly, the coaches also have expectations for several returning athletes. On the boys’ side, junior Max Moulton is the defending D-II 800 meter champion, and he ran with senior James Hare on the Tigers’ winning four-by-800-meter relay team and second-place 4X400 squad last spring.

Both senior James Pecsok and junior Sam Ferguson qualified in hurdling events a year ago, and Ferguson was just one place off the podium in one race.

Blechner said junior thrower Jonah Lefkoe could break through, and Corbett identified senior newcomer Darren Desabrais as a candidate for point in jumps and sprint relays and freshman Nickolas Beauchamp as among the promising younger athletes who could make an impact in jumping and throwing events.

But Corbett would not be sur-

prised to see any number of athletes emerge as they learn the fine points of the disciplines.

“We’re doing a lot of explosive, intense workouts, and they do great at that. They all want to work hard,” he said. “I think it’s just going to be the technical stuff that’s going to have to come as the season goes along … We just have to refine the technique. But as far as the strength and the physical ability, we have a decent amount of it.”

Kimberly sounded the same theme about the newcomers on the girls’ side of the squad. The Tigers had an early meet to try things out, and then a long break to evaluate the results, choose events and work on their mechanics.

“We can see how kids develop through the first meet and we can kind of fine-tune where everyone’s going,” Kimberly said. “We have about a month between meets, so I’m hoping we’ll see where the first one goes and where we want to direct kids.”

The point-scorers who return are seniors Nicole Morris and Lexy Doria. Morris took fourth at 400 meters at last year’s state meet, and she and Doria teamed up with two graduated seniors to take third in the 4X4 relay. Also qualifying a year ago was hurdler Kayla Evans, now a senior. Kimberly also noted that freshman Danielle Morris is coming off a strong cross-country season.

“We have high hopes for them,” she said.

And Kimberly, like Blechner and Corbett, expects others to break through.

“Everyone so far is working really hard,” she said. “They’re doing really well.”

Coaches: Ed Blechner, Michael Corbett, Myka Kimberly Name Grade BOYS’ TEAM: Carl Andrews 12 Addison Bolton 12 Darren Desabrais 12 Talon Drown 12 Andrew Edwards 12 Ryan Gyukeri 12 James Hare 12 Duncan Mathewson 12 James Pecsok 12 Akeem Pottinger 12 Daniel Weinstock 12

Middlebury Union High School Varsity Track and Field Team Sam Ferguson 11 Christopher Garner Merritt Gleason 11 Eric Mathewson Naina Horning 11 Wyatt Norris Jonah Lefkoe 11 Kyle Pecsok Max Moulton 11 Nikhil Plouffe Nathan Peck 11 Haven Tate Jonah Supernovich 11 Holden Yildirim 11 GIRLS’ TEAM: Matt Becker 10 Lexy Doria Grant Durham 10 Kayla Evans Burke Farrell 10 Mary Jensen Adam Joselson 10 Katie Lazarus Nickolas Beauchamp 9 Rachael Mathewson David Dregallo 9 Nicole Morris Matthew Ferguson 9 Ali Sheldrick

9 9 9 9 9 9 12 12 12 12 12 12 12

Casey Vanacore Domenica Vazquez-Macias Kate DaPolito Nathalie Ingersoll Sharon Palmer Anna Roy Kaitlin Huber Michelle Peterson Ember Benatti Reubie Bolton Hannah Buttolph Emily Fleming Danielle Morris Ellie Severy Julia Vorsteveld

Middlebury Union High School Varsity Track and Field 5/15 @ Spaulding 3:30 p.m.

5/21 Harwood, Winooski, Mt. Abe. 3:30 p.m.

5/25 Essex Invitational 9:30 a.m.

6/1 States TBA 6/8 New Englands TBA

Date Opponent/Event Time 4/9 @ Burlington 3:30 p.m.

5/1 @ Harwood 3:30 p.m.

5/4 Burlington Invitational 9 a.m.

5/7 @ Milton 3:30 p.m.

5/11 Slater Invitational 10 a.m.

See you after the game!

MENU SAMPLERS • APPETIZERS • Pan-Fried Dumplings

Veggie or pork with a scallion dipping sauce

Chili Cheese Fries

Award-winning veggie chili over fries and Maplebrook Farms cheddar curds

51 Nachos

Refried black beans, charred tomatillo salsa and Shelburne Farms cheddar with a lime créme fraiche

• ENTRÉES • IPA Mac & Cheese

Local IPA Shelburne Farms cheddar, applewood smoked bacon, topped with sage and rosemary breadcrumbs

Bunny Chow

Authentic South-African bean curry served in a bread bowl (vegetarian)

Brazilian Shrimp Stew

Sautéed black tiiger shrimp simmered in a delicate blend of tomatoes and coconut milk and served with Brazilian rice

• SPECIALS • Duclos & Thompson Burger Fresh and juicy local 6-ounce, grass fed beef, served with garlic aioli and spring greens

BBQ Chopped Pork Sandwich Slow-roasted pork covered with our Carolina-style BBQ sauce, topped with cole slaw

Grilled Chicken Breast

Misty Knoll Farms chicken, pesto aioli, Shelburne Farms cheddar and maple-smoked bacon

∆ Ecopia tires save fuel based on lab tests versus conventional tires. Specific performance may vary. **Offer good in the U.S. Mail-in claim form required. Terms and Conditions apply to Reward Cards, including a monthly $3.00 service fee beginning 7 months after Card issuance. See Cardholder Agreement.

American Express Reward Cards can be used at US merchants that accept American Express® Cards except cruise lines, ATMs, and recurring billing. Visit americanexpress.com/Reward for complete terms.

This Card is issued pursuant to a loyalty, reward or other promotional program. Card issued by American Express Prepaid Card Management Corporation. American Express is not a sponsor of this promotion. † Eligible tires: Ecopia EP422, Dueler H/L 422 Ecopia, Turanza Serenity Plus, Dueler A/T REVO 2, Dueler H/P Sport AS, or Potenza RE97 AS. Eligible tires must be purchased from a participating Bridgestone retailer’s inventory between April 1 and April 30, 2013. Certain restrictions and limitations apply. Offer excludes Costco and GM dealership purchases. See your participating Bridgestone retailer, bridgestonetire. com or call 1-877-TIRE USA for complete details. ^To receive the Double your American Express Reward Card, customers must purchase a set of 4 eligible tires on their new CFNA credit card account to qualify. The tire purchase requirement must be made within 7 days of opening the new account. The account cannot be closed within the first 7 days of opening the new account. The American Express Reward Card cannot be used to pay any credit card balance.

CFNA reserves the right to alter, change or terminate the program at any time.

Nissan and CFNA are not sponsors of this sweepstakes.

For complete list of menu items, visit go51main.com Addison County’s Oldest Family Owned Tire Shop

Tuesday Night

Wednesday Night

BURGER NIGHT

KIDS UNDER 10 EAT FREE

$

6

VERMONT BURGERS

Order 1 entrée from regular menu & receive 1 FREE meal from the kids‘ menu

• OP EN TU ESDAY – SAT UR DAY 5P M – L AT E • 51 Main Street • Middlebury, VT • 388.8209

12 12 11 11 11 11 10 10 9 9 9 9 9 9 9

Addison Independent, Thursday, April 13, 2013 — PAGE 5C

MIDDLEBURY

UNION

HIGH

SCHOOL

Tiger girls’ tennis has new look this spring

By ANDY KIRKALDY MIDDLEBURY — Wholesale change came to the Middlebury Union girls’ tennis team this spring. Seven of the athletes who helped the Tigers win 11 matches and two Division I playoff contests in 2012 graduated, and they have been replaced by eight newcomers, only three with prior experience in the sport.

That’s fine with Coach Laura Rumbough, however. For one thing, she has years of teaching experience and is happy to work with the five who are willing to learn “I’m the game as well as really help the team’s experienced players pleased improve. with the And the newgirls who comers were showcame out, ing rapid progress and I’m in the preseason, really she said.

“The majority of pleased girls are picking it with their up really quickly,” athletic Rumbough said. ability.”

The newcom— Coach ers were also fitLaura ting in well with Rumbough the team’s three returners, senior Grace Boucher and sophomore Marvie Avery, the captains, and junior Sonia Howlett.

“It’s a really nice group of girls,” Rumbough said.

Boucher, Avery and one newcomer, sophomore Madeline Ganey, will be the top three singles players in some order, the coach said, while Howlett and junior exchange student Mizuki Aoyama looked to be the Nos. 4 and 5 players. Regular in-season challenges could shake up the order of lineup in the course of the spring, Rumbough said.

The other two newcomers with some tennis experience are sophomore Jesse Wulfman and freshman Faith Isham, who started the season as the No. 1 doubles team.

Starting as the No. 2 doubles team were juniors Sara Boe and Lindsay Wells, the newcomers who Rumbough said made the most early improvement.

Rumbough said she has emphasized to the athletes the doubles lineup is “not set in stone,” and changes on merit are possible.

“As the season progresses and

certain girls are improving … the higher they are going to be able to play,” she said.

Certainly, Rumbough doesn’t necessarily expect another run to the D-I semifinal round from a young and inexperienced group, but she said the future is bright with so much athletic talent.

“I’m really pleased with the girls who came out, and I’m really pleased with their athletic ability,” she said. “And they’ll be good representatives for Middlebury Union High School.”

Middlebury Union High School Girls’ Varsity Tennis Team Coach: Laura Rumbough Name Grade Grace Boucher 12 Mizuki Aoyama 11 Sara Boe 11 Anna Caliandro 11 Sonia Howlett 11 Lindsay Wells 11 Marvella Avery 10 Emma Castle 10 Madeline Ganey 10 Harper Smith 10 Jesse Wulfman 10 Faith Isham 9

Let’s go Midd!

Middlebury Union High School Girls’ Varsity Tennis Date Opponent/Event Time 4/8 Rice 3:30 p.m.

4/13 Lake Region 3:30 p.m.

4/15 @ St. Johnsbury 3:30 p.m.

4/18 St. Johnsbury 3:30 p.m.

4/29 @ Montpelier 3:30 p.m.

5/1 Harwood 3:30 p.m.

5/8 Spaulding 3:30 p.m.

5/11 U-32 10 a.m.

5/15 Montpelier 3:30 p.m.

5/17 @ Harwood 3:30 p.m.

5/18 @ North Country 11 a.m.

5/20 @ BFA-St. Albans 3:30 p.m.

G.Stone Motors

ROUTE 7 SOUTH • MIDDLEBURY • 802-388-6718

G. Stone Motors is proud to support our local sports teams!

REMEMBER: We take absolutely anything in trade!

WWW.GSTONEMOTORS.COM

PAGE 6C — Addison Independent, Thursday, April 18, 2013

MIDDLEBURY

UNION

HIGH

SCHOOL

Young girls’ lax team has talent

By ANDY KIRKALDY MIDDLEBURY — Coach Kelley Higgins’ Middlebury Union girls’ lacrosse team is coming off two straight appearances in the Division I final, but many of the athletes who helped the Tigers reach that level of success are now playing in college.

But Higgins said despite the Tigers’ youth — the team has one senior and seven juniors on a roster of 19 — the cupboard is far from bare.

About 10 players return with significant varsity experience, and Higgins said her young team has athletic ability and talent.

“I’m encouraged by our speed. We have some strong athletes. It’s just getting used to each other and trusting each other,” Higgins said. “And I don’t doubt those things will happen.”

The preseason did lessen one worry: A three-year starting goalie graduated, but Higgins said sophomore Baily Ryan has worked hard and looked good.

“The goalkeeping situation was a

concern … but she fills the goal nicely,” Higgins said. “It’s just a matter of her getting her confidence.”

It also helps that the starting low defense of senior Tiffany Danyow and juniors Olivia Carpenter and Hannah Hobbs all return, with freshman Claire Armstrong in reserve.

“That part will gel sooner than other things because they’re all back,” Higgins said.

The defensive midfielders are sophomores Julia Rosenberg and Dorothy Punderson, freshman Annina Hare and Armstrong. Sophomore Katie Holmes returns and will take over as the center midfielder. Junior Emily Robinson and sophomore Sophia Peluso, both veterans, will start at offensive midfield and spell Holmes if necessary.

Juniors Sophia Abdul-Sater and Paige Viens and freshmen Emma Donahue and Sophie Hodges are available both at offensive midfield and attack, while several veterans return at attack: sophomore Emily Kiernan, juniors Kiera Kirkaldy and Julia Cluss,

and senior Brianna Foley.

In all, Higgins expects that group to be competitive once again and the season to be enjoyable.

“I don’t know what the other teams will look like, but I’m excited no matter what,” Higgins said. “Everyone is so supportive, parents and students, it makes it fun.”

Middlebury Union High School Girls’ Varsity Lacrosse Date Opponent/Event Time 4/10 Rutland 4:30 p.m.

4/12 Woodstock 4 p.m.

4/16 @ South Burlington 4:30 p.m.

4/29 @ Mt. Anthony 4:30 p.m.

5/1 @ Burr and Burton 4 p.m.

5/3 @ Essex 7 p.m.

5/7 Mt. Mansfield 4:30 p.m.

5/10 @ Burlington 7 p.m.

5/13 Burr and Burton 4:30 p.m.

5/15 Champlain Valley 4:30 p.m.

5/18 South Burlington 11 a.m.

5/21 Essex 4:30 p.m.

5/24 @ Mt. Mansfield 4:30 p.m.

5/28 Burlington 4:30 p.m.

5/31 @ Champlain Valley 4:30 p.m.

Middlebury Union High School Girls’ Varsity Lacrosse Team Coach: Kelley Higgins Name Grade Tiffany Danyow 12 Brianna Foley 12 Sophia Abdul-Sater 11 Olivia Carpenter 11 Julia Cluss 11

Hannah Hobbes Kiera Kirkaldy Emily Robinson Paige Viens Katie Holmes Emily Kiernan Sophia Peluso

11 11 11 11 10 10 10

Dorothy Punderson Julia Rosenberg Baily Ryan Claire Armstrong Emma Donahue Annina Hare Sophie Hodges

10 10 10 9 9 9 9

Familiar face to lead Tiger softball

By ANDY KIRKALDY MIDDLEBURY — After three years leading or assisting the Middlebury Union JV softball team, this spring longtime area youth softball coach Polly Rheaume stepped up to take over the Tiger varsity.

Rheaume has coached many of the MUHS players over the years, including the group that concluded successful careers in 2012.

“The girls that graduated last year I had from fourth grade on, so I was pretty tickled they did as well as they did,” she said.

Some of those girls also left big shoes to fill, notably on the mound and behind the plate.

Middlebury Union High School Varsity Softball 5/9 @ BFA-St. Albans Date Opponent/Event Time 5/14 @ Mt. Mansfield 4/16 Fair Haven 4:30 p.m.

5/16 Essex 4/18 South Burlington 4:30 p.m.

5/21 @ Burlington 4/20 @ St. Johnsbury 11 a.m.

5/23 @ North Country 4/23 Colchester 4:30 p.m.

5/25 Rice 4/25 @ Champlain Valley 4:30 p.m.

5/28 Vergennes 4/30 Milton 4:30 p.m.

5/30 @ Missisquoi 5/2 Mt. Abraham 4:30 p.m.

5/7 @ Spaulding 4:30 p.m.

4:30 p.m.

4:30 p.m.

4:30 p.m.

4:30 p.m.

4:30 p.m.

11 a.m.

4:30 p.m.

4:30 p.m.

Middlebury Union High School Varsity Softball Team Coach: Polly Rheaume Carsyn Buxton Name Grade Rachel Howlett Erin Connor 12 Abby Lane Courtney Crane 12 Annie Lindholm Kristen Gosselin 12 Janelle Mandigo Bailey Mills 12 Ahleiyah Mason-Rivera BreAnna Morse 12 Krisandra Provencher Molly Wright 12 Rachel Sheldrick Justina Baker 11 Makayla Foster

11 11 10 10 10 10 10 10 9

Rheaume will look for senior Kristen Gosselin, who saw some action in 2012, to step up as the team ace this spring, with junior Justina Baker and freshman Makayla Foster rounding out a deep staff.

Senior Bailey Mills was set to start behind the plate, but an injury left her status uncertain as the season arrived. Until Mills is healthy, sophomore Annie Lindholm will get the nod at catcher.

A couple senior veterans do return to anchor the infield, first baseman Erin Connor and third baseman Courtney Crane, the team’s co-captains. Junior Carsyn Buxton is the shortstop, and Rheaume was planning to give sophomore Janelle Mandigo the first look at second base, with junior Rachel Howlett also looking for time there. Sophomore Krisandra Provencher will back up at short and third.

Rheaume was looking at a starting outfield of senior Molly Wright and sophomores Abby Lane and Rachel Sheldrick, with senior BreAnna

Morse and Ahleiyah Mason-Rivera also available there.

Rheaume believes the Tigers will support the pitching staff well.

“If they (opponents) do get the bats on the ball, I’ve got the strong defense to help us out,” she said.

Offensively, Rheaume hopes to use the Tigers’ quickness to put pressure on opposing defenses.

“I’ve got some speed on the team this year, and I’m hoping to use that to our advantage,” Rheaume said.

Although it made for some difficult decisions, Rheaume said it bodes well for the future to see 39 girls try out for 32 positions on the varsity and JV squads this spring.

“We’ve got some good girls coming up through,” she said. “I really do think we’ve got some talent there, so we should be very competitive.”

As for this season?

“They look pretty good. I’ve got some pretty good talent there and potential, so we’re hoping for the best,” Rheaume said. “We’ll see how it goes.”

Good Luck To All Our High School Spring Sports Teams

She’s in the “ready position,” but is she in condition to play?

Sports Medicine and Functional Training for positive re-entry into the game

Judy Holmes, MS, PT • Julia Child, PT, CLT Brie Pike-Sprenger, DPT

Have Fun – Play Fair – Stay Safe

Middlebury Physical Therapy 31 years of experience in sports rehabilitation

Best wishes for a great season!

Kate McIntosh, M.D.; Jack Mayer, M.D.; Tawnya Kiernan, M.D.; Lauren Young, FNP-BC

Rainbow Pediatrics • 388-1338 44 Collins Dr., adjacent to Porter Hospital Rainbowvt.com

295 Colonial Drive • Middlebury, VT • 398-2700

Your ticket to the world of Spring Sports!

Forth ’N ‘N Goal Sports Forth Goal Sports 68 Main Street • Middlebury •388-3444 68 Main Street, Middlebury • 388-3444 Mon- Fri 9:30-5:30 • Sat 9:30-5 • Sun 11-4

SEAT SEAT

Mon - Fri 9:30-5:30, Sa 9:30-5, Su 11-4

No Wagering Permitted • Prognosticating Encouraged WILL BE No Wagering Permitted • prognosticating encouraged • ALL• LATECOMERS LATECOMERS WILL BE SEATED SEATED

ROW ROW

Serving Addison County since 1989

ONE TO 2007ADMITSEASON

SECTION SECTION

John Fuller, Master Plumber • 388-2019

lacrosse baseball softball track • track tennis soccer men • women boys • girls schools • colleges

A11

Win or Lose, Play with Tiger Pride

• • • • • • • •

Addison Independent, Thursday, April 13, 2013 — PAGE 7C

MOUNT ABRAHAM UNION HIGH SCHOOL Mount Abe baseball plans to be in the mix

By ANDY KIRKALDY BRISTOL — Despite some graduation losses from 2012’s eight-win squad, longtime Mount Abraham baseball coach Jeff Stetson is optimistic his perennially contending program can once again be in the Division II mix this spring.

Stetson does sound one note of caution. Junior Sawyer Kamman, one of two anchors of the Eagle pitching staff a year ago, returns this spring, but the rest of the mound crew has less experience.

How well projected starting pitchers Josh Cyr and Sean Wood, both juniors, fare this spring will be critical, Stetson said. Relievers could include juniors Aaron Benway and Mike White-Coe, and possibly starting catcher Cody Alexander.

“Pitching will be what defines us,” he said.

Stetson will not ask the new varsity hurlers to overpower the opposition, but to keep the Eagles in games by pounding the strike zone.

“My view is that we’re going to be able to play pretty solid defense, and we should put the bat on the

ball and not strike out a lot. The big question mark is going to be who is going to throw innings on the mound other than Sawyer,” Stetson said. “If we’ve got guys who just throw strikes and we’re not trying to defend the walk, I think we’ll be OK.” Alexander will handle most of the time behind the plate, with the versatile Benway in reserve. Benway will also be in the running at first base with senior Ryan Barnes.

Kamman will probably play shortstop when not on the mound, and other shortstop and second base candidates are seniors Jared Danyow, Nick Driscoll and Dylan Roscoe. Senior Cody Driscoll or junior Austin Lafayette could play third base, and Stetson said Lafayette might also DH. Outfielders include juniors Barry Longe and Ethan White, WhiteCoe, and possibly Barnes or Roscoe.

Stetson, speaking early in preseason, said the Eagles’ Florida trip was going to not only help the Eagles get ready for the always tough Metro Conference, but also help him sort out the lineup heading into the season.

“That’s why we do it, besides the team-building,” he said. “(We play) five hours a day. The guys get in about 75 swings before they eat breakfast … and practice from 10 to 12, and scrimmage during the afternoon.”

In 2012, the Eagles reached the D-II quarterfinal round before losing a one-run heartbreaker to eventual

champion Vergennes. Stetson said they have the potential to be competitive once again.

“We’ll miss some of those guys … but these guys can step up and do those jobs. To me the big, big thing, is it’s all about pitching in high school, and at any level, of baseball,” Stetson said. “If we can throw strikes, I think we’ll be fine.”

Mt. Abe Varsity Baseball Team Coach: Jeff Stetson Name Grade Cody Alexander 12 Ryan Barnes 12 Jared Danyow 12 Cody Driscoll 12 Nick Driscoll 12 Dylan Roscoe 12 Aaron Benway 11 Josh Cyr 11 Sawyer Kamman 11 Austin Lafayette 11 Barry Longe 11 Ethan White 11 Mike White-Coe 11 Sean Wood 11

Mt. Abe Varsity Baseball Date Opponent/Event Time 4/18 @ CVU 4:30 p.m.

4/20 Spaulding 11 a.m.

4/25 BFA-St. Albans 4:30 p.m.

4/27 @ Harwood 11 a.m.

4/30 Colchester 4:30 p.m.

5/2 @ Middlebury 4:30 p.m.

5/7 @ St. Johnsbury 4:30 p.m.

5/9 Mt. Mansfield 4:30 p.m.

5/11 @ Essex 10 a.m.

5/14 Burlington 4:30 p.m.

5/16 North Country 4:30 p.m.

5/21 @ Rice 4:30 p.m.

5/23 @ Vergennes 4:30 p.m.

5/25 Missisquoi 11 a.m.

5/28 @ South Burlington 4:30 p.m.

5/30 Milton 4:30 p.m.

Eagle golfers intend to contend

By ANDY KIRKALDY BRISTOL — Mount Abraham golf coach Frank Walch makes no bones about it: He is optimistic this spring.

The Eagles return four of the golfers that enabled the team to qualify for the Division II final a year ago.

And that group, of course, includes one of the state’s top high school

Date Course 4/3 Champlain 5/1 Middlebury 5/6 Burlington

Time 3 p.m.

3 p.m.

3 p.m.

Mount Abraham Union High School Varsity Golf 5/10 Lang Farms 3 p.m.

5/14 Barre 3 p.m.

5/17 Cedar Knoll 3 p.m.

5/21 Neshobe 3 p.m.

5/23 5/28 5/31 6/5

NVAC Championship/Kwiniaska South Sect./Rutland Metro 2-Man/Basin Harbor Vt. Championship/Woodstock

3 p.m.

9 a.m.

9 a.m.

8 a.m.

Mount Abraham Union High School Varsity Golf Team Coach: Frank Walch Name Grade Jona Scott 12 Matt Sweeney 12 Reg Valley 12 Eric Raymond 11 Carson Sanchez 9

golfers, senior Jona Scott, who was second in D-II in each of the past two seasons. In 2012, Scott followed that up by taking third in the New England tournament.

“We finished third last year,” Walch said. “We’re going to try to beat that.”

Joining Scott are senior veterans Matt Sweeney and Reggie Valley, junior veteran Eric Raymond, and promising freshman Carson Sanchez.

Walch said Sweeney has been a reliable No. 2.

“He can shoot in the 80s, and he’s shot in the 70s before,” he said. “If he gets hot, he can do some damage.”

Sanchez should move right into the top three.

“I’ve watched him play a little bit,” Walch said. “He’s already shooting in the mid-80s in Middlebury.”

Valley and Raymond will both start, and one will probably be the fourth scorer.

Valley is more than capable of good days, Walch said (“He can shoot anywhere from 92 to 112”), as is Raymond (“If he can beat Reggie, he can contribute”).

The Eagles will have to make up a lot of strokes to defeat D-II winner Harwood, which scored 361 a year ago to the Eagles’ 390, but Walch said Mount Abe will be in the hunt.

“The team to beat is the same one as last year,” Walch said. “They’re going to be tough to beat for the title, but if everything falls right, we can do it.”

Go Eagles!

GOOD LUCK TO ALL ATHLETES! 72 Main St. Middlebury • 388-6831

FOOTE’S INSURANCE AGENCY

See you at the games!

877-3351 • 877-6784 6 Green Street, Vergennes

Just Because...

...You’re all winners!

Just Because

COMMUNITY HEALTH

Bristol Fitness is proud to provide the 5 Towns with many ways to improve your health.

11 Liberty Street, Bristol, Vermont

For information on purchasing this business or renting the property please call Holly at 453-7700

Support your local teams!

Friendly Local Service For More than a Century.

Competitive Rates for all Your Insurance & Financial Planning Needs.

LET US KNOW HOW WE CAN HELP YOU Call Bill or Andrea for Home & Auto (plus Boats RVs ATVs) Call John for Business

453-6600

35 West Street Bristol, VT

www.paigeandcampbell.com

• Classes for students through seniors – Strength, SPINNING, ZUMBA, Yoga, RIPPED, Stretch and Relaxation • Personal Training: all memberships receive a free session to get started!

• Membership Specials in APRIL: Join for a year and your children are FREE! OR Join for a year and receive 3 months (the whole summer!) for FREE!

Improve your health at Bristol Fitness.

“You don’t have to be GREAT to get started, but you have to get started to be GREAT!”

Check Out the Class Schedule on our website

edgevtwellness.com 14 School Street, Bristol VT • 453-5205

PAGE 8C — Addison Independent, Thursday, April 18, 2013

MOUNT ABRAHAM UNION HIGH SCHOOL Eagle boys’ lax adds youth, enthusiasm

By ANDY KIRKALDY BRISTOL — Mount Abraham boys’ lacrosse coach Tim McGowan’s team will have a new look this year after a major infusion of youth — and what he calls the addition of even more enthusiasm.

“We have a very young team. We have great energy and cohesiveness,” McGowan said.

The newcomers should blend with a core of still-young veterans — the team has just two seniors — to make for a positive season, McGowan said.

“Youth, experience and speed will be our fortes,” he said. “Their energy and wanting to be here and perform is second to none.”

The youth movement will start in goal, where freshman Patrick Brown is expected to take over, with sophomore Shane Bowen in reserve.

Brown should benefit from an experienced defense, where in the preseason McGowan projected junior veterans Paul Sabourin, Jason Hart-

man and Will Van Buren to start. Senior Mike Wetzel could also see time in the back, as could two freshmen, Matt George and Caleb Cousino.

With sophomore veteran middie Whit Lower nursing an injury in the early going, McGowan expected his first line of middies to be led by the team’s only other senior, Forrest Wallace, who will be joined by junior Ira Fisher and sophomore Gus Catlin, also veterans.

McGowan was leaning toward an all-freshman unit of Cobi Badger, Charlie Meyer and Dylan Weaver as next out of the chute, but Wetzel, Bowen, junior Luke Freidin and sophomores Ben Charboneau and Tyler Willey are all in the midfield mix, and the coach was still sorting out his options during the preseason.

“The second line may change,” he said. “I may rotate these guys.”

Junior Travis Bachand and sophomore Nick Turner return at attack, where freshman Lucas Richter is a

top candidate to be the third starter and freshman Tucker Paradee will also see time.

McGowan believes the Eagles’ enthusiasm will translate into an enjoyable spring.

“I’m really excited about this year. It’s a new year, and it’s going to be fun,” he said. “I want the boys to have a really good time, and they have the energy to make it happen.”

New coach leads Mt. Abe softball

Mount Abraham Union High School Varsity Softball Date Opponent/Event Time 4/18 @ CVU 4:30 p.m.

4/20 Spaulding 11 a.m.

4/25 BFA-St. Albans 4:30 p.m.

4/27 @ Harwood 11 a.m.

4/30 Colchester 4:30 p.m.

5/2 @ Middlebury 4:30 p.m.

5/7 @ St. Johnsbury 4:30 p.m.

5/9 Mt. Mansfield 4:30 p.m.

5/11 @ Essex 10 a.m.

5/14 Burlington 4:30 p.m.

5/16 North Country 4:30 p.m.

5/21 @ Rice 4:30 p.m.

5/23 @ Vergennes 4:30 p.m.

5/25 Missisquoi 11 a.m.

5/28 @ South Burlington 4:30 p.m.

5/30 Milton 4:30 p.m.

Mount Abraham Union High School Varsity Softball Team Coach: Kelly Trayah Sam Reiss 11 Ashley Boise Name Grade Melanie Rotax 11 Haley Davis Casey Briggs 11 Megan Ryan 11 Kelsey Haskins Sam Forand 11 Tiffany Tracey 11 Hannah Kirby Meghan Livingston 11 Madi Wood 11 Dani Forand

He also believes that energy could translate into more Ws. “Our goal this year to improve our record beyond what it has been in the past,” he said.

At the same time, McGowan said the team’s youth and attitude bodes well for the springs to come.

“We’re looking to grow this team for the future,” he said. “We’re going to be phenomenal in two years.”

Mount Abraham Union High School Varsity Boys’ Lacrosse Date Opponent/Event Time 4/12 Lamoille 4 p.m.

4/15 @ Harwood 4 p.m.

4/17 @ Rice 4 p.m.

4/20 Vergennes 11 a.m.

4/30 Green Mountain Valley 4 p.m.

5/4 @ Montpelier 4 p.m.

5/8 @ Colchester 4 p.m.

5/10 Milton 4 p.m.

5/13 Otter Valley 4 p.m.

5/15 @ Green Mountain Valley 4 p.m.

5/18 @ Vergennes 11 a.m.

5/21 @ Lamoille 4 p.m.

5/24 Colchester 4 p.m.

5/28 @ Milton 5:30 p.m.

6/1 Rice 11 a.m.

Mt. Abe Boys’ Lacrosse Team Coaches: Tim McGowan, Paul Low Name Grade Forrest Wallace 12 Mike Wetzel 12 Travis Bachand 11 Ira Fisher 11 Luke Freidin 11 Jason Hartman 11 Paul Sabourin 11 Will Van Buren 11 Shane Bowen 10 Gus Catlin 10 Ben Charboneau 10 Whit Lower 10 Nick Turner 10 Tyler Willey 10 Cobi Badger 9 Patrick Brown 9 Caleb Cousino 9 Matt George 9 Charlie Meyer 9 Tucker Paradee 9 Lucas Richter 9 Dylan Weaver 9

10 10 10 10 9

By ANDY KIRKALDY BRISTOL — The Mount Abraham softball program has a new coach to lead a young team this spring.

The new coach is Kelly Trayah, who brings 18 years of experience as a junior varsity and middle school coach in softball, soccer and basketball with him to Mount Abe. Almost all of that experience is at Vergennes, but it includes a stint in the 1990s as the Eagle JV softball coach.

In softball, Trayah most recently coached the VUHS JV program for several years, a stint that ended in 2011 because the school had no JV program in 2012. He has also played softball competitively for 26 years, and served as the vice president of the Bristol Softball League for four years in the 1990s.

When he arrived at Mount Abe to coach the Eagles, Trayah said he was greeted by a team of good ath-

letes, none of whom are seniors.

“I was thoroughly impressed when I got there,” he said. ‘They’re going to be good.”

Of course, softball teams are only as good as their pitching, and Trayah said the Eagles have that covered. Junior Sam Reiss had the early track as the No. 1, with junior Sam Forand and sophomore Haley Davis right behind.

They have something in common, Trayah said: None are overpowering, but all have good control.

“They’re consistent in the strike zone. They can use the inside and outside of the plate,” he said.

Control pitching should play into what Trayah called a team strong point — speed.

“I think their strength is going to be defense,” he said. “With that speed, defensively we’re going to be pretty solid.”

Junior Madi Wood returns behind the plate, with freshman Dani Forand in reserve. Sophomore Kelsey

Haskins will probably get the nod at first base, with junior Tiffany Tracey backing her up. Forand had the inside track at second base, with sophomore Ashley Boise and Reiss also in the mix there. Junior Meg Livingstone is the shortstop, and Boise or Sam Forand will play third.

Junior Melanie Rotax will patrol center field, with junior Casey Briggs and junior Megan Ryan the top candidates for left and right field, respectively. Boise and Tracey can also play outfield.

Trayah said the Eagles were making good contact in preseason batting practices, and that he hopes to use the team’s best asset offensively.

“I love to run. Mount Abe has a lot of fast athletes, anyway,” he said. “Hopefully we will get some runs on the board.”

Overall, Trayah is optimistic.

“I’m actually pretty excited,” he said. “I can’t wait to see them start playing.”

Addison Independent, Thursday, April 13, 2013 — PAGE 9C

MOUNT ABRAHAM UNION HIGH SCHOOL Leadership, newcomers boost Mount Abe track

By ANDY KIRKALDY BRISTOL — A number of the pointscoring athletes have graduated from the Mount Abraham track and field program, especially from the girls’ team that finished eighth in Division II a year ago.

But co-coaches Katie Burdett and Gabe Hamilton had no complaints this preseason: They saw the same leadership and positive attitude developing this spring that made the 2012 season enjoyable, and meanwhile many newcomers have swelled the program’s ranks to almost four dozen.

“I always love track kids. They’re so nice, and they’re a really nice bunch again,” Burdett said. “And we have some really solid juniors and seniors who are already stepping up … as leaders and keeping the group going.”

Hamilton listed returning point-scoring seniors Asa Learmonth (sprints and jumps) and Amanda Vincent (javelin) as among a group of leaders that also includes junior distance runner Natalie May, senior jumper Henry Koenig, junior middle distance runner Karen Chandler, and junior hurdler/pole vaulter Silas Pohlman.

Given that he and Burdett have only two part-time assistants for such a large team, having take-charge athletes is a huge help, Hamilton said.

“They’re all kind of naturally falling into these leadership roles,” Hamilton said. “When you have 18 events and 46 kids it’s so important … We can’t be everywhere at once.”

As well as that group, there are many others the coaches will rely on for positive approaches and results. On the boys’ side, they cited juniors Ian Bachand and Gabe Mattison, and a trio of sophomores, Robin Kuhns, Keith Tyrus and Chris Carter.

On the girls’ side, juniors Karen Chandler ran on the Eagles’ competitive four-

by-400-meter relay team last spring, and classmates Lili Knutson and Quinn Gervia scored a sixth-place finish at the state meet on the 4X100 squad. Knutson looks promising in the jumps, as well, they said.

Both coaches also expect many newcomers to shine and younger athletes to emerge.

“There are a couple sophomores this year who really started to figure things out toward the end of their freshmen season,” Burdett said. “And … we have some new kids on the team who are upperclassmen, solid athletes, who I am excited to see what they can do, too.”

Their attitudes will also help the team.

Burdett said athletes indicated on preseason goal cards that they would be flexible about which events they would train for depending on what the team needed.

“We actually had a surprisingly large amount of kids who are new to track who are very open to trying out anything and everything and just seeing what they like and what they’re good at and what the team needs,” Burdett said. “If they can help out by trying out an event they haven’t done, already that awareness is there.”

Hamilton also enjoyed some preseason reading. The coaches asked candidates for captaincies to submit short essays, and the coaches discovered team members share their values.

“They have such clear vision of what track and field is, and they talk about the same things we do,” he said. “We always have a group of kids who want to be there. They’re about having fun and working hard. It’s such a refreshing thing to see … To have this large group of kids that is really motivated is really fun. And it’s not just my perspective now. After reading those applications, it’s really clear the kids see it that way as well.”

Coaches: Gabe Hamilton, Katie Burdett Name Grade Girls’ team: Chelsea Rublee 12 Hayley Slayton 12 Chelsea Thompson 12 Amanda Vincent 12 Karen Chandler 11 Caroline Cote 11 Quinn Gervia 11 Lillian Gratton 11 Megan Hahr 11 Lili Knutson 11

Mount Abraham Union High School Varsity Track and Field Team Jazmine Lester 11 Julia Siminitus Natalie May 11 Laura Sundstrom Gabrielle Schlein 11 Harmony Taggart Young Joo Skiffington 11 Eliza Letourneau 10 Boys’ team: Izzy Moody 10 Tyler Jewett Bakari Olivetti 10 Asa Learmonth Kiley Pratt 10 Tony Sawyer Sarah Sodaro 10 Brandon White Amelia Bruhl 9 Ian Bachand Genevieve Chiola 9 Josh Cousineau Riley Forbes 9 Henry Koenig Mahli Knutson 9 Gabe Mattison

9 9 9 12 12 12 12 11 11 11 11

Drew McKenzie Casey Moon Silas Pohlman Gary Brown Chris Carter Matthew Giles Cullen Jemmison Tyrus Keith Robin Kuhns Nick Meyers Ethan Allred Andrew Cloutier Josh Kroll

Mount Abraham Union High School Varsity Track & Field Date Opponent/Event 4/11 @ CVU 4/17 Host: MMU, CVU 5/3 @ Spaulding 5/4 BHS Invitational 5/8 @ North Country 5/11 @ Slater Invitational

Time 3:30 p.m.

3:30 p.m.

3:30 p.m.

10 a.m.

3:30 p.m.

TBA

5/15 Host: Montpelier, U-32, Richford, Lake Region, Whitcomb 3:30 p.m.

5/17 Decathlon @ Essex TBA 5/21 @ Middlebury 3:30 p.m.

5/25 @ Essex Invitational TBA 5/29 @ U-32 Frosh Sophomore Meet 3 p.m.

6/1 State Championships TBA

We’ve Got You Covered – Floor to Ceiling

prginSgale S oorin

Fl

Let Countryside’s consultants help you choose the right flooring.

From carpet, hardwood & laminates to tile, cork or bamboo, take advantage of great savings during Countryside’s Spring Flooring Sale.

OFF 5

$

COUNTRYSIDE COUPON

A Gallon of Regal Select Interior

Offer good through Saturday 5/4/13. Limit 4 per household.

16 Creek Road Middlebury, Vermont

802-388-6054 M-F 7:30-5:30 • Sat 8-3

countrysidecarpetandpaint.com

11 11 11 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 9 9 9

PAGE 10C — Addison Independent, Thursday, April 18, 2013

OTTER VALLEY UNION HIGH SCHOOL Otter baseball aims high after 2012 surge

Senior veterans lead promising squad

By LEE J. KAHRS BRANDON — Tim Mitchell is excited. Much like everyone else in the Otter Valley sporting community, the second-year baseball coach can’t wait to see what his boys do this year.

“I just absolutely cannot wait to see how we do,” the coach said. “I think as the season goes on, we’ll just get better and better.”

After going 12-7 last season with a loss in the semifinals to eventual Division II champions Vergennes, the Otters are very strong this year with six seniors, including pitching aces Justin Owen and Brett Patterson. Six juniors, three sophomores and two freshmen round out the roster this season.

And the future looks bright for the program overall, as the junior varsity squad boasts seven players who swing between varsity and JV. In fact, the team is so deep that Mitchell is still trying to find a place for everyone.

“That’s a good problem for me to have,” he said. “I have 17 people that I’m trying to get experience as well. It’s a challenge, but it’s a good challenge.”

Mitchell is set at pitching, not only with Owen and Patterson as starters, but with relievers as well.

“I’ve got six other guys who can step right in and pick up where Justin and Brett leave off,” Mitchell said.

Batting is equally strong.

“Yeah, we’ve got some good sticks,” the coach said.

And the team is also intent on keeping their road success intact from last season, when they won eight of nine on the road.

“We’ll take road games anytime,” Mitchell said. “We should be equally good on the road, if not better, than last year.”

Mitchell does not designate captains, instead telling all of his players to behave like captains on and off the field, and they have listened.

The team is known for being the most respectful and responsible student-athletes at OV. As for his expectations for this season overall, Mitchell said he wants to win 20 games. He also predicts that OV and Vergennes will meet again in the playoffs this season.

“I’m smiling now, but I would like to smile a lot more at the end of the season,” he said.

Otter Valley Union High School Varsity Baseball Team Coach: Tim Mitchell Name Grade Ryan Kelley 12 Chad Lonergan 12 Justin Owen 12 Brett Patterson 12 Thomas Roberts 12 Jim Winslow 12 Will Claessens 11 Dean Douglas 11

Tyler Jones CJ McCullough Shane Quenneville Mike Winslow Connor Gallipo Emmett Thurston John Winslow Tyler Allen Carson Leary

11 11 11 11 10 10 10 9 9

Otter Valley Union High School Varsity Baseball Date Opponent/Event Time 4/10 Green Mountain 4:30 p.m.

4/12 Springfield 4:30 p.m.

4/23 @ Bellows Falls 4:30 p.m.

4/25 Woodstock 4:30 p.m.

4/27 @ Green Mountain 2 p.m.

4/30 Windsor 4:30 p.m.

5/2 @ Springfield 4:30 p.m.

5/7 @ Mill River 4:30 p.m.

5/9 @ Woodstock 7 p.m.

5/11 @ MSJ 11 a.m.

5/14 Leland & Grey 4:30 p.m.

5/17 Bellows Falls 4:30 p.m.

5/21 @ Windsor 4:30 p.m.

5/24 @ Leland & Grey 4:30 p.m.

5/28 @ Fair Haven 4:30 p.m.

5/30 Burr & Burton 4:30 p.m.

Teamwork key for Otter softball

Date Opponent/Event 4/8 Mt. Anthony 4/12 Fair Haven 4/22 Woodstock 4/24 @ Hartford 4/26 Rutland

Time 4:30 p.m.

4:30 p.m.

4:30 p.m.

4:30 p.m.

4:30 p.m.

Otter Valley Union High School Varsity Softball 4/30 @ Mt. Anthony 4:30 p.m.

5/2 @ Springfield 4:30 p.m.

5/7 @ Mill River 4:30 p.m.

5/9 Leland & Grey 4:30 p.m.

5/11 Proctor Noon 5/14 @ Rutland 4:30 p.m.

By LEE J. KAHRS BRANDON — One game at a time. That’s the philosophy of longtime Otter Valley softball coach Patty Candon. Neither the coach nor her players can really remember last year’s record (it was 10-6), nor are they concerned about it. That’s ancient history, Candon said.

“Our goal is to improve with every game and keep their focus,” Candon said. “And to learn. Whether we win or lose, there’s always something to learn.”

And OV’s effort must be a team effort, this year more than ever. There are a total of 11 girls on the roster, just enough to field a team of nine with only two on the bench. And to add to the intrigue, Otter Valley soft-

5/18 5/22 5/24 5/28 5/31

Brattleboro Hartford @ Brattleboro @ Fair Haven Springfield

11 a.m.

4 p.m.

5 p.m.

4:30 p.m.

4:30 p.m.

blood in this team,” he said. “They come out and work hard, day in and day out. I’m very lucky. I also have a lot of kids who are very coachable.”

The OV lacrosse program is only in its third year and hasn’t had a win since 2011. Stewart believes that will change this year, partially because he has some depth. There are 14 seniors on this team, three juniors, four sophomores, and 11 freshmen. While Stewart acknowledges that many are playing for the first time, he said the nature of the

game is such that the learning curve is not that steep. The proof is really in the commitment to getting better.

“I can teach anyone the basics really quickly,” the coach said. “Then, it’s about hard work and playing the game.”

To that end, Stewart planned a different start to the season. The team spent two weeks in the gymnasium on stick work and fundamentals before they even stepped on the grass.

Stewart said he strives for a fun, family atmosphere on the team, and it’s working.

Best of luck to all athletes – Have a great season!

The FashionCorner For all your formal wear needs!

4325 Main St., Port Henry, NY • 518-546-7499 Visit Fashion Corner Bridal on Facebook

and the veteran coach said the team is improving in that area as well.

Candon has not chosen captains this season, saying her expectation is that leadership is organic, and that many of her players possess that quality.

“You’re going to lead whether it says ‘Captain’ on the roster or not,” she said bluntly. “Any one of these kids could lead the team, and that’s what I want.”

As far as this season goes, the team is off to a good start, and Candon is hopeful, but realistic.

“As far as I’m concerned, we’re on a one-game win streak,” she said with a smile. “And that’s what we say after each win.”

Otter Valley Union High School Varsity Softball Team Coach: Patty Candon Brittany Bushey 11 Cortney Poljacik Name Grade Brandi Heath 11 Laura Beth Roberts Meranda Bassette 12 Brianna Hedding 11 Amy Jones Taylor Aines 11 Kelli Jerome 11 Olivia Bloomer 11 Megan McKeighan 11

Commitment, numbers improve for OV lax

By LEE J. KAHRS BRANDON — The Otter Valley boys’ lacrosse team has doubled in size since last season, and coach Randy Stewart is hoping that will translate into wins for the young program.

“Last year, our biggest problem was accountability,” the secondyear coach said. “One game, I’d have 12 players, the next I’d have 17. Commitment was a problem.”

That is not the issue this year, Stewart said.

“Oh no, I’ve got good, young

ball boasts only one senior this year, Meranda Bassette. There are nine juniors and one freshman, Amy Jones.

The team’s dramatic season-opening, 7-4 win against Mount Anthony was a testament to Candon’s insistence on a team effort, which is what this bare minimum roster will need to notch more W’s. Junior standout Taylor Aines pitched for one hit, five strikeouts and six walks, plus hitting a three-run walk-off homer in the bottom of the eighth to seal the win.

But she had help. The team combined for nine hits and good defense.

“If they didn’t get a bat on the ball, they had a glove on the ball,” Candon said. “So it was truly a team effort.”

Batting was a concern last season

“Even with zero wins, you’d be hard pressed to find a kid who didn’t have fun last season,” the coach said. “We have a very close knit, family atmosphere that I push and that the kids buy into.”

As for the team’s prospects this season, Stewart would like to win six or seven games, a far cry from the previous seasons.

“We have six or seven games scheduled that are truly in our wheelhouse,” he said. “They could go either way. I expect to win them all.”

Otter Valley Union High School Boys’ Varsity Lacrosse Date Opponent/Event Time 4/13 Randolph 11 a.m.

4/15 Vergennes 4 p.m.

4/19 @ Brattleboro 7 p.m.

4/20 St. Johnsbury 1 p.m.

4/25 Woodstock 4:30 p.m.

4/27 Mt. Anthony 11 a.m.

4/29 @ Vergennes 4:30 p.m.

5/8 Hartford 4:30 p.m.

5/11 @ Burr & Burton 11 a.m.

5/13 @ Mt. Abraham 4 p.m.

5/16 Burr & Burton 4:30 p.m.

5/24 Rutland 4:30 p.m.

5/25 @ St. Johnsbury (Oxbow) 1 p.m.

5/29 Green Mountain Valley 4:30 p.m.

5/30 @ Hartford 4:30 p.m.

11 10 9

OVUHS Varsity Lacrosse Coach: Randy Stewart Name Grade Tyler Bicknell 12 Beau Buxton 12 Jeff Corbett 12 Edward Dupont 12 Garrett Eugair 12 James Greeno 12 Brandon Hemple 12 Jakob Mulcahy 12 Elyas O’Classen 12 Jakob Pillon 12 Colton Pratt 12 Jesse Schu 12 Nathaniel Smith 12 Morgan Whitney 12 David Fernandes 11 Douglas Friend 11 Evan Lovely 11 Derek Bassette 10 Alex Hunt 10 Vytas Nielson 10 Adam Sherwin 10 Logan Alger 9 Marcel Denis 9

Let’s Go Otter Valley!

Support your local teams!

Addison Independent, Thursday, April 13, 2013 — PAGE 11C

OTTER VALLEY UNION HIGH SCHOOL Otter golf welcomes newcomers

By JOHN S. McCRIGHT BRANDON — Although Otter Valley golf coach Tom Ryan lost three of the four golfers on last year’s team to graduation, he is excited about the coming season on the links. With no seniors and several youngsters getting their first experience with the sport, though, he sees 2013 as being a bridge year to future successes.

“We’re very, very young,” Ryan said. “We have 10 boys of varying ability, a couple of whom are complete newcomers to the game.”

He was glad that the weather has been such that the team got out on the course early in April, which gave Ryan a chance to evaluate skill level and teach the younger ones the basic skills of the game.

Three freshmen look to be key members on the Otter team this season: Keegan LaRock, Colin Nicklaw and Lucas Tremblay. The

trio “tagged around at practice last year and they’re probably the most experienced ones in the group,” Ryan said.

“The freshmen I have are passionate and avid golfers, they golfed all last summer,” he added.

Ryan also has hopes for strong performances from 10th-graders Nick Cram and Ben Lones.

“Being sophomores I’ve seen them hit some balls on the range, and they have some potential,” he said.

The Otters’ one returning player from last year is junior Garrett Robin, who looks to be a good contributor, but may not be able to make all the matches because of other commitments.

But, just as LaRock, Nicklaw and Tremblay showed up at practices just to learn the game last year, Ryan says he’s got three more eighth-graders coming to the Ne-

shobe Golf Club to practice with the Otters this season.

“They’re very excited to join the team next year,” he said.

And that excitement and commitment, coupled with the inevitable improvements his current golfers will make this season, should mean that Otter Valley golf will see some very successful rounds on the links.

“I’m very confident about where we could be in two or three years,” Ryan said.

Otter Valley Union High School Varsity Golf Team Coach: Tom Ryan Clint Lee Name Grade Colin Nicklaw Garrett Robin 11 Trevor Peduto Nicholas Cram 10 Lucas Tremblay Randy Disorda 10 Nathan Audette Benjamin Lones 10 Benjamin Jerome Colby Case 9 Thomas Kingsley Keegan LaRock 9

9 9 9 9 8 8 8

Otter Valley Union High School Boys’ Varsity Golf Date Course 4/22 @ Rutland 4/24 Neshobe 4/29 Neshobe 4/30 @ Manchester 5/3 @ Green Mountain 5/6 @ Okemo

Time 3:30 p.m.

3:30 p.m.

3:30 p.m.

3:30 p.m.

3:30 p.m.

3:30 p.m.

5/7 5/8 5/13 5/15 5/20 5/23 5/28

@ Woodstock 3:30 p.m.

Neshobe 3:30 p.m. @ Rutland 1:30 p.m. @ Crown Point 9 a.m.

Neshobe 1:30 p.m. @ Dorset 3:30 p.m. @ Rutland (D-II Sectionals) 9 a.m.

OVUHS tennis returns veterans

By LEE J. KAHRS BRANDON — Coach Jim Samler has a deep, experienced team of 11 girls on the OV tennis team this year, and he’s looking forward to another successful season.

His biggest problem is making playing time for everyone.

“We’ll do what we can,” he said.

“Having five seniors is good and bad, because those girls have been

on the team and want to play, but it’s bad because you want everyone to compete.”

The team also includes five juniors and one sophomore.

The OV girls won the Marble Valley League B Division Championship last season and only lost two players to graduation. They were ranked fifth in Division II and lost to No. 4 Harwood in the quarterfinals

of the 2013 state tournament.

The team started this season with a wake-up call from powerful Burr & Burton, losing 7-0. But Samler said the competition is stiff all over the MVL and that the OV girls will hold their own again this season.

“All the teams are good,” he said.

“Tennis in the Marble Valley League is pretty competitive. All of the schools have pretty good programs.”

Otter Valley Union High School Otter Valley Union High School Girls’ Varsity Tennis Team Girls’ Varsity Tennis Coach: Jim Samler 5/3 @ Bellows Falls Date Opponent/Event Time Name Grade 5/7 Woodstock 4/8 @ Burr & Burton 4:30 p.m.

Alyssa Adamsen 12 5/8 @ Rutland 4/10 Hartford 4:30 p.m.

5/10 MSJ Louisa Jerome 12 4/12 Brattleboro 5 p.m.

5/17 @ Springfield Hannah Lones 12 4/22 @ MSJ 4:30 p.m.

5/24 @ Mt. Anthony 4/24 Springfield 4:30 p.m.

Alysen Smith 12 4/29 Bellows Falls 4:30 p.m.

Kayla Zsido 12 Samantha Collette 11 Caitlyn Curtis 11 Kiki Lin 11 Danarose Weaver 11 Gabrielle Welch 11 Sarah Young 10

Let’s Go Otters!

Want faster local sports news? Jump on... www.addisonindependent.com

Good Luck Teams!

ADDISON COUNTY

INDEPENDENT

VERMONT’S TWICE-WEEKLY NEWSPAPER Middlebury, VT 05753 • (802) 388-4944 • www.AddisonIndependent.com

4:30 p.m.

4:30 p.m.

4:30 p.m.

4:30 p.m.

4:30 p.m.

4:30 p.m.

PAGE 12C — Addison Independent, Thursday, April 18, 2013

VERGENNES UNION HIGH SCHOOL VUHS baseball seeks to repeat

By ANDY KIRKALDY VERGENNES — The Vergennes Union baseball team cemented itself as a Division II power in 2012, when Coach George Ringer’s Commodores won the program’s second title in six years.

Graduation, injuries and a transfer have made an impact on the VUHS roster, but a number of key athletes return, including the two senior pitchers who dominated the opposition and picked up two wins apiece in the D-II postseason a year ago, Charlie Stapleford and Devin Hayes.

“Any team in the state would be glad to have Charlie and Devin pitching for them,” Ringer said.

Two pitchers are enough to get through the playoffs, but more are needed for the regular season, which includes three-game weeks even before the weather starts toying with the schedule.

Ringer will look to seniors Nick Richer and Justus Sturtevant to start games for VUHS, and probably senior Zach Ouellette and sophomore Dylan Raymond to throw in relief.

The final regular season may hinge

on their performances as much as those of the two aces, Ringer said.

“It depends how well we fill in behind those guys,” he said.

The team’s lineup will also depend who is on the mound, and on how healthy a player or two is. Senior Wade Steele caught most of the games in 2012, but has a knee that is not at 100 percent, Ringer said, meaning Stapleford may handle much of the catching if Steele cannot. If Stapleford is pitching, junior Aaron Rowell or sophomore Chris Leach could wear the catching gear.

Heading into the season, Steele, Hayes, Stapleford, Raymond and freshman Dylan Bougor were all available at first. Sturtevant was set at second, with Ouellette ready to step in there when Sturtevant pitches. The sure-handed Richer, a three-season starter at second base, was ready to be the first VUHS shortstop not named Curler in a half-dozen years, with Ouellette and Hayes the backups.

“I have a lot of confidence in Nick at short,” Ringer said.

Third base could be Hayes, Raymond or Ouellette, who is really the

team’s starting centerfielder but is valuable as the team’s Swiss Army knife when Ringer juggles the lineup depending on the pitching.

As well as Ouellette, outfield candidates are Rowell, senior Harry Senesac, Leach, junior Nathan Unger, freshman Josh Sickles, and, if his injured knees heals enough by the end of the season, junior Tommy Lee Hodsden.

How well all the juggling works out and how well the newcomers perform will also help determine how far the Commodores go this spring.

“I think there are a lot of expectations, just because of this great class of senior athletes,” Ringer said. “But there are certain holes to fill, and I think our success depends on how well we fill those holes.”

Early indications were the Commodores were gelling as a group and putting in the effort needed to do well, he said.

“We have as good a chance as anyone does,” Ringer said. “It all depends on how hard we work and how we handle ourselves during the season.”

Vergennes Union High School Varsity Baseball Team Coach: George Ringer Justus Sturtevant Name Grade Tommy Lee Hodsden Devin Hayes 12 Aaron Rowell Zach Ouellette 12 Nathan Unger Nick Richer 12 Chris Leach Harrison Senesac 12 Dylan Raymond Charlie Stapleford 12 Dylan Bougor Wade Steele 12 Josh Sickles

12 11 11 11 10 10 9 9

VUHS Varsity Baseball Date Opponent/Event Time 4/18 @ North Country 4:30 p.m.

4/20 @ Mount Mansfield 11 a.m.

4/23 Winooski 4:30 p.m.

4/25 @ Burlington 4:30 p.m.

4/30 Essex 4:30 p.m.

5/2 @ Rice 4:30 p.m.

5/4 St. Johnsbury 4:30 p.m.

5/7 BFA-St. Albans 4:30 p.m.

5/9 @ Missisquoi 4:30 p.m.

5/11 South Burlington 11 a.m.

5/14 Milton 4:30 p.m.

5/16 @ CVU 4:30 p.m.

5/21 @ Colchester 4:30 p.m.

5/23 Mt. Abraham 4:30 p.m.

5/25 @ Spaulding 11 a.m.

5/28 @ Middlebury 4:30 p.m.

VUHS softball looking for more

Vergennes Union High School Varsity Softball 5/9 @ Missisquoi Date Opponent/Event Time 5/11 South Burlington 4/18 @ North Country 4:30 p.m.

5/14 Milton 4/20 @ Mt. Mansfield 11 a.m.

5/16 @ CVU 4/23 Winooski 4:30 p.m.

5/21 @ Colchester 4/25 @ Burlington 4:30 p.m.

5/23 Mt. Abraham 4/30 Essex 4:30 p.m.

5/25 @ Spaulding 5/2 @ Rice 4:30 p.m.

5/28 @ Middlebury 5/4 St. Johnsbury 4:30 p.m.

5/7 BFA-St. Albans 4:30 p.m.

By ANDY KIRKALDY VERGENNES — The Commodore softball team took a big step forward in 2012, winning 14 games and reaching the Division II semifinal round before bowing out to eventual champion BFA-Fairfax.

A couple key players have graduated from that squad, notably the team’s leadoff and cleanup hitters, but Coach Mike Sullivan returns three solid starting pitchers and an all-star catcher, plus several other key veterans.

Sullivan believes the Commodores won’t play as much small-ball, because a lot of their team speed graduated, but they will still have plenty of thump. He recalled former

4:30 p.m.

11 a.m.

4:30 p.m.

4:30 p.m.

4:30 p.m.

4:30 p.m.

11 a.m.

4:30 p.m.

Vergennes Union High School Varsity Softball Team Coach: Mike Sullivan Danielle Brown Name Grade Phoebe Plank Molly Ambrose 12 Emilee Trudo Caitlin Chaput 12 K.C. Ambrose Amanda Cota 12 Kayla Charron Becca Hardin 12 Felicia Armell Taylor Paquette 11 Tamara Aunchman

11 11 11 10 10 9 9

Major League Baseball manager Earl Weaver’s famous adage that pitching, defense and three-run homers win games.

“I think collectively we’re going to be more of a solid defense, good pitching, three-run-homer kind of team,” Sullivan said.

With several players having worked hard on their games in the offseason — notably juniors Dani Brown, Taylor Paquette and Emilee Trudo, the team’s trio of pitchers as well as key hitters — he expects the offense will be fine, if different.

“The kids we have now are going to step up,” he said.

Those three hurlers will throw to senior catcher Caitlin Chaput, a standout whose season was cut short by injury a year ago. Sophomore K.C. Ambrose, who filled in with Chaput out in 2012, and freshman Felicia Armell will back her up behind the plate.

Sullivan was not sure in preseason about who would play first base, with Brown, Trudo and senior

Amanda Cota the candidates there.

Senior Becca Hardin and freshman Tamara Aunchman were both seeking time at second base, and Paquette is the shortstop when she’s not pitching, with Ambrose backing her up.

Senior Molly Ambrose, Trudo or Aunchman were all in the mix at third base in the preseason. Brown is likely to DH if she is not in the field.

Junior Phoebe Plank will take over in center field, with Ambrose, sophomore Kayla Charron and Armell rotating on either side of her.

Sullivan said he likes the team’s defensive potential.

“We’ll be strong defensively, I think that will help us win some games as well,” he said.

And Sullivan believes the Commodore pitchers will excel again, and if the bats produce like he believes they can, another good season will be in the offing.

“Pitching is definitely our strength,” he said. “If we can put some runs behind it, we’ll be very tough.”

VUHS lacrosse seeking to advance

By ANDY KIRKALDY VERGENNES — Vergennes Union boys’ lacrosse coach Ed Cook sees the team’s two-win 2012 season as the first step toward being a consistent, competitive program.

Cook noted last spring not only followed a winless 2011 season and a one-win 2010, but also the Commodores were right in the thick of many other contests in 2012 — and that many key athletes return to keep the program moving forward.

“A lot of these guys have been playing together for four years. We made a huge jump in competitiveness last year. We won our first two games in two years, lost five or six games by one or two goals,” Cook said. “And the attack’s the same as the past two years, and the midfield is pretty much the same, so they have great chemistry.”

Cook also said the athletes have been working hard to get ready, and he is encouraged by an interest level that will allow the program to once again dress a full JV team.

“We’ve been doing offseason stuff since January,” he said. “They do

stuff on their own. We’ve got guys working out with each other. Really, there’s a pride in Vergennes lacrosse again.”

The attackers will probably again be paced by 2012 leading scorer Joe Krayewsky, who is joined by two returning starters who also did damage a year ago, juniors J.T. O’Brien and Tucker Babcock. Cook said he is tweaking the team’s offensive tactics to take advantage of the skills of his starting attackers, who will be backed up by freshman Tyler Crowningshield.

“We’re switching up our attack a little bit to take advantage of the attackmen and their chemistry,” he said.

A trio of seniors will probably play together on the top midfield line, Hunter Casey, Jordan Grant and Cody Hutchins, with another experienced trio next into the fray, seniors Chris Dayton and Isaac Bigelow and sophomore Erik Eisenhower.

Seniors Justin Strona and Steven Paquette, junior Brady Poquette and sophomore Deighlin Lynes will also see action at midfield.

Go Commodores!

Best of Luck this Season!

181 Green St. • Vergennes 802-877-3437• signs@ahsigns.com

MARCOTTE & Sons AUTO VILLAGE Since 1955

Good Luck Commodores!

• AUTO SALES & SERVICE

• FULL SERVICE REPAIR SHOP • BUY & SELL QUALITY LATE MODEL VEHICLES

425-3560 • www.marcotteandsons.com 6682 Rt. 7, No. Ferrisburgh, VT 05473

The defense also has a veteran look: Seniors Gary Caldwell, Ryan Crowningshield and Stephen Van Wyck return and will start, with sophomore Bailey Dieterle backing them up. Senior Eric Averill returns in goal, but will miss at least the first three games, meaning freshman Broc Clark will step in between the pipes in the early going.

Overall, with the team’s experience and chemistry, Cook expects the Commodores to build on 2012.

“I have high hopes to be .500 or above this year and make that next jump to be a competitive lacrosse program again,” he said.

Vergennes Union High School Boys’ Varsity Lacrosse Team Coach: Ed Cook Name Grade Erik Averill 12 Isaac Bigelow 12 Gary Caldwell 12 Hunter Casey 12 Ryan Crowningshield 12 Chris Dayton 12 Jordan Grant 12 Cody Hutchins 12 Joe Krayewsky 12

Steven Paquette Justin Strona Stephen Van Wyck Tucker Babcock J.T. O’Brien Brady Poquette Bailey Dieterle Eric Eisenhower Deighlin Lynes Broc Clark Tyler Crowningshield

12 12 12 11 11 11 10 10 10 9 9

Vergennes Union High School Boys’ Varsity Lacrosse Date Opponent/Event 4/5 @ Otter Valley 4/17 Milton 4/20 @ Mt. Abraham 4/26 @ Milton 4/29 Otter Valley 5/7 Rice 5/11 Colechester

Good Luck Vergennes Commodores!

Supporting atheletes young & old since 1985.

www.vermontsun.com Middlebury 388-6888

Vergennes 877-2030

Time 4 p.m.

4 p.m.

11 a.m.

4 p.m.

4:30 p.m.

4 p.m.

11 a.m.

5/13 5/15 5/18 5/21 5/24 5/29 6/1

@ Randolph @ Lamoille Mt. Abraham Milton @ Rice @ Colchester Lamoille

4 p.m.

4 p.m.

11 a.m.

4 p.m.

4 p.m.

4 p.m.

3:30 p.m.

Good Luck This Season!

FOOTE’S INSURANCE AGENCY

2 South Water St., Vergennes • 877-2416

See you at the games!

FERRISBURGH

877-3351 • 877-6784

BAKE SHOP & DELI Good Luck Teams!

6 Green Street, Vergennes

Support your local teams!

Route 7 South • 877-2100 • M-F 6-5 • Sat. 7-2

Addison Independent, Thursday, April 13, 2013 — PAGE 13C

VERGENNES UNION HIGH SCHOOL

Small VUHS track team big on talent

By ANDY KIRKALDY VERGENNES — Vergennes Union track and field coach Jeff Kauffman believes his relatively small team — two dozen athletes — could make a relatively big impact in Division II this spring.

Especially on the boys’ side, where proven point-scorers return in a few disciplines, Kauffman is optimistic.

“Relays, middle distance, sprinting and hurdles will be big for us,” he said.

Hurdling is probably the safest bet for VUHS points: Senior Jon Welch won the 2012 D-II title at both 110 and 300 meters in the discipline, while senior Austin Beamish placed in the 110 hurdles and senior Lane Kessler placed in the 300.

“Our hurdling again is going to be super strong,” Kauffman said.

Welch also excelled at 100 meters in this past indoor season, and Kauffman looks for him to contend in that event outdoors, and to form a competitive four-by-100-meter relay team with Kessler and sophomores Sebby Crowell and Chris Castillo.

The Commodores’ 4X400 team also placed in the 2012 state meet, and there are five candidates for that team this year: Senior Eddie Devino (third at 800 meters a year ago, and a contender again), Welch, Kessler, Crowell and sophomore Liam Godfrey.

“Our four-by-four should be pret-

ty good again,” Kauffman said.

Godfrey and sophomore Liam Hayes will run at 800 and 1,500 meters, while Castillo and Beamish will be joined on the jumping crew by athletic newcomers Cody Quattrocci, a senior, and Jordan Stearns, a junior. Stearns should also complement sophomore thrower Alex Bushey, Kauffman said.

On the girls’ side, sophomore thrower Ally Stearns is a good bet to score points after a solid shot put season this past winter, and Kauffman said Stearns will be expanding her repertoire this spring.

“We expect even more out of her outdoors,” he said. “We’re looking for a real strong shot put season, and then starting to pick up on the disc and the jav.”

The girls’ team should also have decent depth at 400 and 800 meters, with senior Alix Kauffman, juniors Samara Sausville and Ruby Dombek, and sophomores Paige Stolen and Tia Hunt all available.

Four of those five will also comprise what Kauffman believes will be a competitive 4X400 team.

“We’ll have a strong four-byfour,” he said.

Senior veteran Abbey Baker and Dombek will handle the sprints, while Sausville and Kauffman will probably focus on the 400 and Stolen on the 800. Sophomore Sammy Kepes will run at 1,500 and 3,000

meters, and Kauffman said Baker and Dombek should fare well in the jumping events.

Although there are fewer girls than boys on the roster, Kauffman is pleased they will be competing in so many events this spring, more than in recent years.

“We’re a little bit more rounded on the girls,” he said. “We’re small, but we’re starting to be able to cover everything.”

Vergennes Union High School Varsity Track & Field Team Coaches: Jeff Kauffman, Brad Castillo Christopher Castillo Name Grade Sebastien Crowell Austin Beamish 12 Liam Godfrey Eddie Devino 12 Liam Hayes Lane Kessler 12 Tia Hunt Cody Quattrocci 12 Samantha Kepes Jonathan Welch 12 Allyson Stearns Ruby Dombek 11 Paige Stolen Alix Kauffman 11 Jesse Barnes Samara Sausville 11 Brynn Kessler Jordan Stearns 11 Silas Mullin Alex Bushey 10

VUHS golf coach aims to share love of game

By ANDY KIRKALDY VERGENNES — After assisting longtime Vergennes Union golf coach Chris Brady last spring, Ferrisburgh resident Kurt Plank stepped up this spring to take over as the program’s leader.

Plank said he recently has returned to what he called a true lifetime sport.

“I love the game,” he said. “My background is just as a recreational golfer. I played as a kid, and now I’m back in the sport.”

Working with Brady in 2012

helped convince Plank to become the new coach when Brady opted to step down.

“I enjoyed encouraging the kids to play the game,” he said.

The other major reason Plank signed on is golf itself.

“Because it’s a lifelong game, I just get excited about bringing interested young people on board,” he said.

“They can have fun with it for many, many years.”

Although the Commodores do not have many golfers who Plank be-

lieves will approach par or contend for the Division II title, a few have some experience and may have an inside track on being the starters, including Jarrett LaFleche, Matteo Palmer, Jen Morley, Elan Hugo, Jason Russin and Grady O’Connor.

“We’ve got a couple of kids who could certainly go out there and lead the pack,” he said.

And Plank hopes as many as possible on the team can get a taste of competition, enjoy themselves and learn the rules of golf, which he said

require self-policing and integrity.

“My expectation for this year is to get the kids out there … to have them experience that aspect of the game of golf,” he said. “I’m hoping to instill in these young people, you can go into this, you can have fun, you can do the best you can, and you can meet other people. And no matter how you (perform), you’ve conducted yourself in a sportsmanlike manner and you have regard for the rules of the game and the etiquette of the game.”

10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 9 9 9

Vergennes Union High School Varsity Golf Team Coach: Kurt Plank Name Grade Nathaniel Cannon 12 Jennifer Morley 12 Noah Praamsma 12 Kristopher Brooks 11 Jarret LaFleche 11 Grady O’Connor 11 Matteo Palmer 11 Jason Russin 11 Levi Waterman 11 Elan Hugo 10

Go Commodores!

Vergennes Union High School Varsity Track & Field Date Opponent/Event Time 4/9 @ Colchester 3:30 p.m.

4/18 @ Milton 3:30 p.m.

4/19 @ So. Burlington Invit’l 5 p.m.

5/4 @ Burlington Invit’l 10 a.m.

5/11 @ Fair Haven Invit’l 10 a.m.

5/21 @ UVM 3:30 p.m.

5/25 @ Essex Invitational 10 a.m.

6/1 D-II State Championships TBA

Vergennes Union High School Varsity Golf Date Opponent/Event Time 4/29 Essex 3 p.m.

5/1 Middlebury 3 p.m.

5/6 St. Johnsbury 3 p.m.

5/9 Champlain 3 p.m.

5/14 Middlebury 3 p.m.

5/17 Basin Harbor 3 p.m.

5/21 Neshobe 3 p.m.

5/23 NVAC Champs.

(Kwiniaska) 10 a.m.

5/28 Sectionals (Rutland) 9 a.m.

5/31 Metro 2-Man Tourn.

(Basin Harbor) 9 a.m.

6/5 States @ Woodstock 8 a.m.

Let us help you acheive your PEAK performance to keep your eye on the ball!

Play hard this season, because for the past thirteen years we have had your back, and your knee, shoulder, elbow, ankle and neck covered!

Stop in or call us for a CONTACT LENS FITTING today!

802-877-2422

27 Main Street, Vergennes VT • Tues.- Fri. 8-5

H

FERRISBURGH

BAKE SHOP & DELI

H

Good Luck Commodores!

• Fresh Coffee • Breads • Pastries • BIG Cookies • Sandwiches made to order

H

Route 7 South • 877-2100 • M-F 6-5 • Sat 7-2

877-6991

300 Main Street, Vergennes, VT 05491

H

PAGE 14C — Addison Independent, Thursday, April 18, 2013

50

YEARS

STRONG

ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION

19A Elm St., Middlebury Vermont

GOOD LUCK THIS SEASON!

www.cyclewisevt.com

802-388-0669

Quality Used Cars

Rte. 7 New Haven, VT

453-5563

>

130 Ethan Allen Highway – Route 7 • New Haven, VT

MIKE’S AUTO mikesautovt.com

HEAD IN TODAY

Open Tues.-Fri. 9-6 & Sat. 9-4

NEW HAVEN SELF STORAGE 2877 ETHAN ALLEN HWY. (RT.7) NEW HAVEN, VT • 453-5563

For your safety, always wear a helmet, eye protection, and protective clothing when riding any motorcycle or ATV. Never ride under the influence of alcohol or other drugs. Study your owner’s manual and always inspect your Suzuki before riding. Take a riding skills course. For the MSF street course nearest you, call 1-800-446-9227. Off-road riders can enroll in the Dirt Bike SchoolSM by calling 1-877-288-7093. ATV riders can call the SVIA at 1-800-852-5344 and we’ll even pay for the training. Suzuki engineered the GSX-Rs™, GSX1300R, LT-Z400 and LT-R450 for experienced riders. Financing available upon approved Suzuki credit.

This promotion good until May 31, 2013